特效植物营养素对水稻基因表达的表观遗传效应初探

用特效植物营养素(Special Plant Nutritional Element,简称SPNE)处理不同水稻品种,比较处理组和对照组水稻的F1代幼苗及不同代系处理组和对照组的水稻幼苗的生长及过氧化物同工酶和基因转录的差异.结果表明,SPNE对F1代水稻幼苗的生长表型及表观遗传学表型影响较大,其中对上代用SPNE处理...     

Noise in gene expression: origins, consequences, and control

Genetically identical cells and organisms exhibit remarkable diversity even when they have identical histories of environmental exposure. Noise, or variation, in the process of gene expression may contribute to this phenotypic variability. Recent studies suggest that this noise has multiple sources, including the stochastic or inherently random nature of the biochemical reactions of gene expression. In this review, we summarize noise terminology and comment on recent investigations into the sources, consequences, and control of noise in gene expression.     

Spatial control of gut-specific gene expression during Caenorhabditis elegans development

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was transformed with constructs containing upstream deletions of the gut-specific ges-1 carboxylesterase gene. With particular deletions, ges-1 was expressed, not as normally in the gut, but rather in muscle cells of the pharynx (which belong to a sister lineage of the gut) or in body wall muscle and hypodermal cells (which belong to a cousin lineage of the gut). These observations suggest that gut-specific gene expression in C. elegans involves not only gut-specific activators but also multiple repressors that are present in particular nongut lineages.     

A glycine-dependent riboswitch that uses cooperative binding to control gene expression

We identified a previously unknown riboswitch class in bacteria that is selectively triggered by glycine. A representative of these glycine-sensing RNAs from Bacillus subtilis operates as a rare genetic on switch for the gcvT operon, which codes for proteins that form the glycine cleavage system. Most glycine riboswitches integrate two ligand-binding domains that function cooperatively to more closely approximate a two-state genetic switch. This advanced form of riboswitch may have evolved to ensure that excess glycine is efficiently used to provide carbon flux through the citric acid cycle and maintain adequate amounts of the amino acid for protein synthesis. Thus, riboswitches perform key regulatory roles and exhibit complex performance characteristics that previously had been observed only with protein factors.     

水稻广谱抗性负调控基因OsSSI2的克隆及原核表达

水稻Os SSI2基因负调控水稻的抗病反应,为了研究该基因的抗性机理,构建p GEX-6P1-Os SSI2原核表达载体,转化大肠杆菌BL21细胞后利用IPTG诱导外源蛋白表达并优化表达条件,使用SDS-PAGE和Western Blot检测分析表达产物。结果表明:成功构建了p GEX-6P1-Os SSI2原核表达载体后进行原核表达,在IPTG浓度为0.3 mmol/L,温度为25℃,诱导表达7 h,通过SDS-PAGE和Western Blot检测发现Os SSI2蛋白的可溶性表达量最多,为进一步研究水稻Os SSI2蛋白的抗性机理奠定了基础。     

Senescence of nickel-transformed cells by an X chromosome: possible epigenetic control

Transfer of a normal Chinese hamster X chromosome (carried in a mouse A9 donor cell line) to a nickel-transformed Chinese hamster cell line with an Xq chromosome deletion resulted in senescense of these previously immortal cells. At early passages of the A9/CX donor cells, the hamster X chromosome was highly active, inducing senescence in 100% of the colonies obtained after its transfer into the nickel-transformed cells. However, senescence was reduced to 50% when Chinese hamster X chromosomes were transferred from later passage A9 cells. Full senescing activity of the intact hamster X chromosome was restored by treatment of the donor mouse cells with 5-azacytidine, which induced demethylation of DNA. These results suggest that a senescence gene or genes, which may be located on the Chinese hamster X chromosome, can be regulated by DNA methylation, and that escape from senescence and possibly loss of tumor suppressor gene activity can occur by epigenetic mechanisms.     

Extensive DNA inversions in the B. fragilis genome control variable gene expression

The obligately anaerobic bacterium Bacteroides fragilis, an opportunistic pathogen and inhabitant of the normal human colonic microbiota, exhibits considerable within-strain phase and antigenic variation of surface components. The complete genome sequence has revealed an unusual breadth (in number and in effect) of DNA inversion events that potentially control expression of many different components, including surface and secreted components, regulatory molecules, and restriction-modification proteins. Invertible promoters of two different types (12 group 1 and 11 group 2) were identified. One group has inversion crossover (fix) sites similar to the hix sites of Salmonella typhimurium. There are also four independent intergenic shufflons that potentially alter the expression and function of varied genes. The composition of the 10 different polysaccharide biosynthesis gene clusters identified (7 with associated invertible promoters) suggests a mechanism of synthesis similar to the O-antigen capsules of Escherichia coli.     

Role of histone H3 lysine 9 methylation in epigenetic control of heterochromatin assembly

The assembly of higher order chromatin structures has been linked to the covalent modifications of histone tails. We provide in vivo evidence that lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3 Lys9) is preferentially methylated by the Clr4 protein at heterochromatin-associated regions in fission yeast. Both the conserved chromo- and SET domains of Clr4 are required for H3 Lys9 methylation in vivo. Localization of Swi6, a homolog of Drosophila HP1, to heterochomatic regions is dependent on H3 Lys9 methylation. Moreover, an H3-specific deacetylase Clr3 and a beta-propeller domain protein Rik1 are required for H3 Lys9 methylation by Clr4 and Swi6 localization. These data define a conserved pathway wherein sequential histone modifications establish a "histone code" essential for the epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin assembly.     

Programmed gene rearrangements altering gene expression

Programmed gene rearrangements are used in nature to to alter gene copy number (gene amplification and deletion), to create diversity by reassorting gene segments (as in the formation of mammalian immunoglobulin genes), or to control the expression of a set of genes that code for the same function (such as surface antigens). Two major mechanisms for expression control are DNA inversion and DNA transposition. In DNA inversion a DNA segment flips around and is rejoined by site-specific recombination, disconnecting or connecting a gene to sequences required for its expression. In DNA transposition a gene moves into an expression site where it displaces its predecessor by gene conversion. Gene rearrangements altering gene expression have mainly been found in some unicellular organisms. They allow a fraction of the organisms to preadapt to sudden changes in environment, that is, to alter properties such as surface antigens in the absence of an inducing stimulus. The antigenic variation that helps the causative agents of African trypanosomiasis, gonorrhea, and relapsing fever to elude host defense is controlled in this way.     

Pedhn基因的克隆及表达分析

为深入研究胡杨的抗盐分子机制,并获得与之相关的抗逆基因,采用SMART技术构建了胡杨盐胁迫处理cDNA文库。经随机测序,得到一个编号为SSL061的EST序列,与欧美杨的脱水素基因有较高相似性,通过PCR快速扩增文库的方法获得了胡杨脱水素基因（Pedhn）。分析表明,该cDNA的长度为813 bp,拥有681 bp 的开放读码框,共编码227个氨基酸。该序列包括两个重复的富含赖氨酸的K片段和由7个连续的丝氨酸残基组成的S片段,但是缺乏Y片段。RT-PCR结果表明,胡杨在未受胁迫的情况下脱水素基因的转录水平较低,而随着盐胁迫浓度的升高,脱水素基因的转录水平总体呈上升趋势。      

纳豆激酶基因的克隆和高效表达

为了克隆纳豆激酶(Nattokinase,NK)基因,实现纳豆激酶在大肠杆菌中的表达,并对其表达条件进行研究,首先以从枯草芽孢杆菌中提取的基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR扩增包括信号肽、前导肽、成熟肽序列的前纳豆激酶原基因,将其克隆到载体pET28a中,构建重组质粒pET28a-NK,成功转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3);然后优化影响该基因表达的温度、时间和IPTG添加量等因素。结果表明,重组菌株BL21(DE3)-NK在20℃下培养、IPTG添加量为0.4 mmol·L-1、培养20 h时表达产物的纤溶活性最大,可达到81.73 U·mL-1,SDS-PAGE检测观察到1条38 kDa的蛋白条带,与预期相符。     

鸡HOPX基因的克隆及表达分析

前期研究发现,HOPX基因在鸡脂肪组织高表达,为了解该基因在脂肪发育过程中的作用,采用RT-PCR方法,扩增和克隆鸡HOPX基因全长CDS区,并进行序列分析;采用real-time RT-PCR和半定量RT-PCR的方法,开展了HOPX基因的组织表达谱分析、HOPX基因在东北农业大学肉鸡高、低脂双向选择品系脂肪组织发育过程中的表达差异分析以及鸡脂肪细胞分化过程中的表达分析。研究结果显示,鸡HOPX基因的全长CDS区为222 bp,编码73个氨基酸。HOPX基因在鸡的多种组织中表达,其中,在脂肪组织中的表达量最高;在高、低脂系肉鸡的脂肪组织生长发育过程中,HOPX基因的表达均随年龄增长而上升,且高脂系鸡HOPX基因的表达量高于低脂系;在鸡脂肪细胞分化过程中,HOPX基因的表达呈上升趋势。HOPX基因的表达分析结果提示,该基因在鸡脂肪组织生长发育过程中发挥作用。